Vacuum cleaner comprising a filter drawer

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner ( 1 ) comprising a housing ( 2 ) in which a drawer-like compartment ( 8 ) can be removably positioned, said compartment comprising a dust chamber ( 7 ) for receiving a dust collector which can be arranged in a suction air flow path between a connecting piece ( 4 ) of a suction hose ( 5 ) or a suction tube and an intake opening ( 20 ) of a motor/ventilator unit ( 21 ). In order to improve one such vacuum cleaner ( 1 ) such that the dust collector ( 16 ) can be removed from the vacuum cleaner ( 1 ) in a simple, user-friendly manner, the motor/ventilator unit ( 21 ) is fixed in the housing and the dust collector ( 16 ) can be removed from the suction air flow path by pulling out the drawer-like compartment ( 8 ). In this way, the drawer-like compartment ( 8 ) can be removed with little expenditure of force.

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner according to the introductorypart of patent claim 1.

A vacuum cleaner according to category is known from DE 36 33 783 A1,which has a drawer-shaped housing part withdrawable from a secondhousing part. The drawer-shaped housing part contains a dust bag andaccessories, as well as a motor chamber disposed therebehind. Thedrawer-shaped housing part containing the dust chamber and the motorchamber can be withdrawn from the other housing part like a drawer froma cupboard. A mechanical abutment is provided so that the motor chamberwhen the drawer-shaped housing part is withdrawn still remainscompletely covered by the upper side of the second housing part.Assembly of the vacuum cleaner shall be simplified by this construction.After installation of the components, which are to be received in thevacuum cleaner, in the drawer-like housing part pushing thereof into thesecond housing part is merely necessary in order to complete assembly ofthe vacuum cleaner.

In that case, however, it is disadvantageous that removal of the dustbag is possible only in a manner which is awkward for the user. On theone hand, the drawer-shaped housing part containing the dust bag iswithdrawable only with expenditure of a high degree of force, since theheaviest component of the vacuum cleaner, namely the motor/fan unit, hasto be withdrawn at the same time, and on the other hand the dust bagfilled with dust has to be gripped in order to be able to remove it fromthe vacuum cleaner.

It is the object of the invention to develop a vacuum cleaner accordingto category with a drawer-like pull-out in such a manner that a dustseparator is removable from the vacuum cleaner in a simple manner or amanner convenient for the user.

According to the invention this object is fulfilled in that themotor/fan unit is fixedly arranged in the housing and the dust separatoris removable from the flow path of suction air by withdrawal of thedrawer-like pull-out.

Inasmuch as the motor/fan unit is fastened to the stationary housingpart of the vacuum cleaner, the motor/fan unit does not have to be movedat the same time on withdrawal of the drawer-like pull-out. Thedrawer-like pull-out can accordingly be withdrawn with littleexpenditure of force. Since the dust separator is removed from suctionair by withdrawal of the drawer-like pull-out from the flow path, aninconvenient manual detaching of the dust separator from the flow pathis eliminated. In order to remove the dust separator from the flow path,the dust separator no longer has to be directly gripped by the user, butit is sufficient to merely grip the drawer-like pull-out.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the connecting stub pipe forthe suction hose or the suction pipe is fastened to the housing and thedust separator connected with the connecting stub pipe by way of thedrawer-like pull-out. It may be possible in principle to provide theconnecting stub pipe at a wall of the drawer-like pull-out. Thus, thesuction hose or suction pipe connected with the connecting stub pipe ismoved together with the drawer-like pull-out and the connection betweensuction hose and dust separator is maintained. This has the advantagethat there is no risk of leakage losses due to a non-tight connectionbetween suction hose and dust separator. On the other hand, a fixedcoupling of the connecting stub pipe to the drawer-like pull-out isdisadvantageous with respect to mobility and a possible removability ofthe drawer-like pull-out. If, however, the connecting stub pipe isfastened to the housing and the dust separator is connectible with theconnecting stub pipe by way of the drawer-like pull-out then a suctionhose connected with the connecting stub pipe or a connected suction pipedoes not have a disadvantageous effect on the movability of thedrawer-like pull-out. The pull-out can be pulled out and pushed inwithout having to move the connecting stub pipe therewith. Thus,possible braking forces introduced into the connecting stub pipe by aconnected suction hose or a suction pipe are not transmitted to thedrawer-like pull-out. The drawer-like pull-out remains easily movablewith little expenditure of force.

In a developed construction the drawer-like pull-out carries a couplingmember which can be flowed through by suction air and which in a closedposition of the drawer-like pull-out of the dust separator is connectedwith the connecting stub pipe. The coupling member is firmly attached tothe drawer-like pull-out. The dust separator, which can, for example, beconstructed as a dust filter bag or as a cyclonic separator, is held atthe coupling member at least approximately in hermetically sealedmanner. For this purpose an inlet opening at the dust filter bag or atthe cyclonic separator can have an encircling seal which bears against atubular stub pipe of the coupling member. A further tubular stub pipecan be formed at the coupling member at a side of the coupling memberremote from the dust separator and can also have a seal, which in apushed-in position at the drawer-like pull-out bears in at leastapproximately hermetically sealed manner against the connecting stubpipe, which is attached to the housing, for the suction hose or for thesuction tube. The coupling member can also have a centring element whichengages in a corresponding guide element at an inner wall of thehousing. It is thus ensured that the coupling member and therewith alsothe dust separator bear against the connecting stub pipe in accordancewith operation when the drawer-like pull-out is in the pushed-inoperating position. The centring element does not have to be directlyformed at the coupling member, but can also be arranged at anothersuitable position of the drawer-like pull-out. A hermetic connection ofdust separator and suction hose or suction pipe can be achieved inreliable manner by means of the coupling member.

In an advantageous variant the drawer-like pull-out is displaceablymounted in the housing in a plane inclined relative to the horizontal.This has the advantage that pushing-in of the withdrawn drawer-likepull-out is assisted by gravitational force. In a particularly suitableconstruction the drawer-like pull-out is mounted for easy motion in thehousing of the vacuum cleaner in such a manner that it slides into thepushed-in position solely by virtue of gravitational force. Thedrawer-like pull-out then does not have to be actively pushed in by theuser, but automatically travels back into the moved-in operatingposition. In that case biasing means such as tension or compressionsprings for biasing the drawer-like pull-out into the moved-in operatingposition are also not necessary for automatic movement in of thedrawer-like pull-out. Obviously biasing means can, if required, bepresent if for constructional reasons the gravitational force is notsufficient in order to move in the drawer-like pull-out.

In a further embodiment of the invention the drawer-like pull-out isarranged in the housing of the vacuum cleaner above the motor/fan unitand/or a cable winding device. A compact mode of construction for thevacuum cleaner is achieved by the arrangement of drawer-like pull-outand the further essential subassemblies of the vacuum cleaner one abovethe other. Preferably, the drawer-like pull-out extends substantiallyover the entire width or length of the vacuum cleaner in order to beable to make the drawer-like pull-out of the largest possible size sothat a dust separator, which is received by the drawer-like pull-out,with a large capacity can be used. In addition, the inclined arrangementof the drawer-like pull-out contributes to overall compact constructionof the vacuum cleaner.

In a construction according to the invention the drawer-like pull-outhas a front panel which in the closed position hermetically bearsagainst the housing. Through the sealed bearing against it is ensuredthat a sufficient underpressure can be generated in the dust chamber bythe motor/fan unit. In principle it is sufficient if the front panelbears against an outer wall of the housing and a sealing coating isapplied therebetween. By virtue of the underpressure produced by themotor/fan unit the drawer-like pull-out is, in particular, sucked indirection towards the housing and pressed against the sealing coating sothat a good sealing effect is achieved. For improvement of the sealingaction there can, however, also be provided a sealing lip or sealingcord which is arranged either at the housing of the vacuum cleaner or atthe drawer-like pull-out, preferably at the front panel, andhermetically closes off at a corresponding sealing surface.

A detent means can be provided between the drawer-like pull-out and thehousing for holding the drawer-like pull-out in its closed position.Unintended outward movement of the drawer-like pull-out is prevented bythe detent means. It would be disadvantageous, particularly duringoperation of the vacuum cleaner, if the drawer-like pull-out opens andfrees the dust chamber. The underpressure in the dust chamber when thendecay and the function of the vacuum cleaner would be disturbed. If thedrawer-like pull-out should move out unintentionally during operationthen the vacuum cleaner, particularly the pull-out, could be damaged ifthe user did not notice this and the pull-out hits against, for example,a piece of furniture during movement of the vacuum cleaner.

Advantageously the vacuum cleaner can have an actuating element forunlocking the detent means. Thus, the drawer-like pull-out can bewithdrawn only after the actuating element has been actuated by theuser. This has the advantage that the drawer-like pull-out cannot bemoved out unintentionally. The drawer-like pull-out is released only inthe case of an express wish of the user. Due to the actuating elementthere is created, in particular, a functional feature of a vacuumcleaner which allows handling of the vacuum cleaner by the user in clearand satisfactory manner.

The drawer-like pull-out can have a hand grip for user-friendly andergonomic handling of the vacuum cleaner. The drawer-like pull-out canbe actuated by pulling at the handgrip. The actuating element can, inadvantageous and ergonomic manner, be arranged at the handgrip or thehandgrip itself can be movably mounted at the drawer-like pull-out andform the actuating element.

Preferably the vacuum cleaner has a resilient biasing element, againstthe spring force of which the drawer-like pull-out is held in closedsetting. The biasing element is biased in the pushed-in, operationallyready position of the drawer-like pull-out. If locking at thedrawer-like pull-out is triggered, then the drawer-like pull-out moves,preferably against gravitational force, into an open position in whichthe dust separator is removable from the drawer-like pull-out. Due tothe resilient biasing element there is achieved an automatic movement ofthe drawer-like pull-out which gives to the user an impression ofparticular quality.

In all described embodiments and variants of the invention thedrawer-like pull-out can either be held at the housing in such a mannerthat the drawer-like pull-out cannot be completely removed from thevacuum cleaner or can be held in such a manner at the housing that it isremovable from the housing. If the drawer-like pull-out is constructedto be removable from the housing then the advantage results that thedust separator can be removed from the vacuum cleaner together with thedrawer-like pull-out. In that case the user is not obliged to grip thedust filter bag. It is sufficient to grip the drawer-like pull-out,particularly at the handgrip thereof, to remove it from the vacuumcleaner and to take it to a suitable location in order to dispose of thedust filter bag. A new, non-soiled dust filter bag can thereafter beinserted into the drawer-like pull-out and the pull-out together withthe new dust filter bag inserted into the vacuum cleaner. Insertion ofthe new dust filter bag in that case does not have to take place in abody posture near the floor, but can be carried out standing or sitting.Only subsequently is the dust filter bag, which is inserted into thedrawer-like pull-out, inserted into the vacuum cleaner. The vacuumcleaner is then operationally ready again.

The invention is described in more detail in the following on the basisof an example of embodiment, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to theinvention, with closed, drawer-like pull-out;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, withopened, drawer-like pull-out;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the vacuum cleaner according toFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the vacuum cleaner according toFIG. 1.

A vacuum cleaner 1 having a housing 2 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Tworunning rollers 3 arranged at opposite longitudinal sides of the housing2 are rotatably mounted in the tail region of the vacuum cleaner 1. Aconnecting stub pipe 4 arranged in the front region of the vacuumcleaner 1 at the upper side thereof is fastened to the housing 2. Asuction hose connected with a suction nozzle (not illustrated) isconnected with the connecting stub pipe 4. A dust chamber 7 is disposedin the housing 2 above a fan chamber 6. A drawer-like pull-out 8 ispushed into the dust chamber 7 from the rear side in the tail region ofthe vacuum cleaner 1. The pull-out 8 has a front panel 9 which in theclosed position of the pull-out 8 closes an access opening 10 in thehousing 2. The front panel 9 has a semicircular profile, wherein thecurved side of the front panel faces upwardly. The straight side of thefront panel 9 is directed downwardly and faces the fan chamber 6. Ahandgrip 11 is integrally formed at the outer surface of the front panel9. The outer surface, which is covered by the handgrip 11, of the frontpanel 9 is of concave shape and forms a grip trough 12.

FIG. 2 shows the vacuum cleaner 1 of FIG. 1 with withdrawn drawer-likepull-out 8. The pull-out 8 has a boxlike plan. The side wall of thepull-out 8, which is flush with the profile of the vacuum cleaner 1, hasthe front panel 9. The pull-out 8 has a planar base surface, at whichthe front panel 9—as one side wall—and the further side walls areintegrally formed. A curved support 14 spans from an upper edge of onelongitudinal side wall 13 to a longitudinal side, which is opposite theside wall 13 and not visible, of the pull-out 8. A coupling member 15 isfastened to the curved support 14. An opening of a dust filter bag 16bears against the underside of the coupling member 15. The couplingmember 15 stands at the connecting stub pipe 14 in the closed positionof the pull-out 8.

FIG. 3 shows the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 2 in cross-section. A sealingcord 17, which in the closed position of the pull-out 8 bears against anedge 18 of the access opening 10 in the dust chamber 7, is fastened tothe side of the front panel 9 facing the vacuum cleaner 1. The pull-out8 can be pushed into the vacuum chamber 7 along an inclined plane 19.The inclined plane 19 forms the base of the vacuum chamber 7 and at thesame time the roof of the fan chamber 6. A suction opening 20 is formedin the base of the vacuum chamber 7. The suction opening 20 is opentowards the fan chamber 6. Arranged within the fan chamber 6 is amotor/fan unit 21 which is connected with the dust chamber 7 by way ofthe suction opening 20. A cable winding device 22 is arranged within thefan chamber 6. The cable winding device 22 contains a mains cable (notillustrated), the free end of which has a mains plug 23. A biasingelement 24, which assists withdrawal of the pull-out 8 against the slopeof the inclined plane 19, is fastened to an inner wall of the vacuumchamber 7 in the front region of the vacuum cleaner 1.

The vacuum cleaner 1 with pushed-in pull-out 8 is shown in FIG. 4. Thebiasing element 24 stores, in the illustrated position of the pull-out,energy for pushing-out of the pull-out 8 against the slope of theinclined plane 19. In order to keep the pull-out 8 in the pushed-inposition notwithstanding the biased biasing element 24, an actuatingelement 25 is pivotably mounted at the housing 2. The actuating element25 is pivotably mounted at the housing 2 in a centre region by means ofan axle 26. The limb, which faces the tail region of the vacuum cleaner1, of the actuating element 25 has a detent means constructed as a hook.The detent means 27 engages, in the moved-in position of the pull-out 8,in a groove 28 at the front panel 9 and keeps the pull-out 8 in themoved-in position. Through pressing of the limb, which is opposite thedetent means 27, of the actuating element 25 the hook of the detentmeans 27 is pivoted upwardly out of the groove 28 and the pull-out movesout with the bias of the biasing element 24 against the slope of theinclined plane 19.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A vacuum cleaner comprising a housing, in which adrawer-like pull-out is mounted to be withdrawable, which has a dustchamber for receiving a dust separator insertable into a flow path ofsuction air between a connecting stub pipe of at least one of a suctionhose and a suction pipe and a suction opening of a motor/fan unit, whichis fixedly arranged in the housing, wherein the dust separator isremovable from the flow path of suction air by withdrawal of thedrawer-like pull-out, wherein the connecting stub pipe for the at leastone of the suction hose and the suction pipe is fastened to the housingand the dust separator is connectible with the stub pipe by way of thedrawer-like pull-out.
 14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13,wherein the drawer-like pull-out carries a coupling member which can beflowed through by suction air and by way of which in a closed positionof the drawer-like pull-out the dust separator is connected with theconnecting stub pipe.
 15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14,wherein the drawer-like pull-out is mounted in the housing to bedisplaceable in a plane inclined relative to the horizontal.
 16. Thevacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the plane is inclined insuch a manner that displacement of the drawer-like pull-out into theclosed position is assisted by gravitational force.
 17. The vacuumcleaner according to claim 14, wherein the drawer-like pull-out has afront panel which in the closed position of the drawer-like pull-outbears in airtight manner against the housing.
 18. The vacuum cleaneraccording to claim 14, wherein a detent means for holding thedrawer-like pull-out in its closed position is provided between thedrawer-like pull-out and the housing.
 19. The vacuum cleaner accordingto claim 18, wherein the vacuum cleaner has an actuating element forunlocking the detent means.
 20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim19, wherein the actuating element is arranged at a grip of thedrawer-like pull-out.
 21. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 14,wherein the vacuum cleaner has a resilient biasing element, thedrawer-like pull-out being kept in the closed position against thespring force of the biasing element.
 22. The vacuum cleaner according toclaim 13, wherein the drawer-like pull-out is completely removable fromthe housing.
 23. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein thedrawer-like pull-out is arranged above at least one of the motor/fanunit and a cable winding device in the housing of the vacuum cleaner.24. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing; a stub pipe connected to thehousing and forming an intake opening for receiving air into thehousing; a dust chamber defined within the housing and being in fluidcommunication with the stub pipe, the housing having an access openingproviding access to the dust chamber; a motor/fan unit disposed withinthe housing and generating a suction air flow through the housing, themotor/fan unit connected to a suction opening in fluid communicationwith the dust chamber; a dust separator positionable within the dustchamber in the path of the suction air flow between the stub pipe andthe suction opening; and a pull-out drawer slidably supported by thehousing for movement with respect to the housing and being positionablewithin the dust chamber through the access opening and supporting thedust separator, the pull-out drawer being movable between a closedcondition, in which the dust separator is coupled to the stub pipe andpositioned in the flow path of suction air and the pull-out drawer sealsthe dust chamber, and an open condition, in which the dust separator isuncoupled from the stub pipe and removed from the flow path of suctionair and the pull-out drawer is withdrawn from the housing.
 25. Thevacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein housing includes aninclined plane supporting the pull-out drawer for slidable movement andsloping downwardly from the access opening toward the stub pipe, whereinthe positioning of the pull-out drawer into the closed condition isassisted by gravitational force.
 26. The vacuum cleaner according toclaim 24, wherein the pull-out drawer has a front panel that engages thehousing in the closed position to form a substantially airtight sealwith the housing to seal the dust chamber.
 27. The vacuum cleaneraccording to claim 24, further comprising a detent means connected tothe housing and releasably engaging the pull-out drawer to lock thepull-out drawer in the closed condition.
 28. The vacuum cleaneraccording to claim 24, further comprising a biasing element biasing thepull-out drawer toward the open condition, the pull-out drawer beingkept in the closed condition against the biasing force of the biasingelement.
 29. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein thepull-out drawer is completely removable from the housing in the opencondition.
 30. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 24, wherein thepull-out drawer includes two opposing side walls extendinglongitudinally along the pull-out drawer and a curved support extendingupwardly and across the top off the pull-out drawer between the two sidewalls, the dust separator having a coupling member engaging the stubpipe and being supported by the curved support.
 31. A vacuum cleanercomprising: a housing; a stub pipe connected to the housing forreceiving air into the housing; a dust chamber defined within thehousing and being in fluid communication with the stub pipe; a motor/fanunit disposed within the housing and generating a suction air flowthrough the housing; a dust separator positionable within the dustchamber in the path of the suction air flow between the stub pipe andthe motor/fan unit; and a removable retaining means retaining the dustseparator and being slidably supported by the housing for movement withrespect to the housing, the retaining means being movable between aclosed condition, in which the dust separator is coupled to the stubpipe and positioned in the flow path of suction air, and an opencondition, in which the dust separator is uncoupled from the stub pipeand removed from the flow path of suction air.
 32. The vacuum cleaneraccording to claim 31, further comprising: an inclined plane definedwithin the housing and supporting the retaining means for slidablemovement and sloping downwardly toward the stub pipe, wherein thepositioning of the retaining means into the closed condition is assistedby gravitational force; a detent means connected to the housing andreleasably engaging the retaining means to lock the retaining means inthe closed condition; and a biasing element biasing the retaining meanstoward the open condition, the retaining means being kept in the closedcondition against the biasing force of the biasing element.